Heart for Him

New Site

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Peoples) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 19:15:00 +0000

I'm excited to announce the launch of my new site, Impact: Making a Difference in Your Family, Church, Community, and the World! Starting January 1st, 2013, I'll be hanging out over there full time. If you subscribe to this site, we'll be automatically moving you to the new site. Can't wait to see you there!

An Anchor for the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Sunday Afternoon Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 18:39:00 +0000

The blog has been quiet lately. Partly because I've had lots of editing jobs in the last month. I'm so thankful to be able to do a job I love from home! Partly because I'm working on a new on-line home. If I'm going to be blogging there, I don't want to keep blogging here. That just means more to move over. I'll keep you posted on when it will happen!

Here's what else is on my mind on this beautiful fall-like Sunday afternoon:

We could get the adoption referral call any day. It's such an exciting time, but also frustrating. You wake up each day with hope and go to bed with disappointment. It will happen when it's supposed to happen, I know.
Until we get that call, everything is going on our calendar in pencil. No plans are for sure. No dates are set in stone. No travel plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's all on hold until . . .
I have two books reserved for me at the library. I don't have any editing jobs scheduled for this week, which means I get more time to read! (I moved my reading list over to my editing blog if you want to check it out!)
Football season is back on. Which means our TVs are back on. Last year I was in a fantasy league with my husband and some men from church. I came in second. This year I didn't do it. I can't decide if I miss it or not.
My Sunday school class is studying the book of Hebrews and I am loving it. Tonight my small group is starting a new study. We'll be doing Psalms and the corresponding events from the life of David. I hope we all enjoy it.
James turned five last week. Since he was diagnosed with autism soon after his third birthday, I'm always especially reflective as we celebrate. A year ago we were barely treading water in what felt like an ocean of therapy, school, diet changes, and behavioral modification. Two years later it's still an ocean of therapy, school, diet changes, and behavioral modification, but instead of barely treading water, we're doing the butterfly stroke. Did you see the butterfly strokes during the Olympics this summer? It's not pretty. There's lots of splashing water. But it is effective. In our lives, there are some not-so-pretty moments, but we're in an effective routine. It feels good.
David did theater camp this summer and really enjoyed it. I don't know yet if theater will be "his thing," but I really want him to have a "thing." I don't want him to feel lost being the brother of one with autism and one from Ethiopia. I'm a special needs sibling myself, so I know how important having his own identity is. We're going to two theater productions this month to continue to see if he likes it!

In Returning and Rest

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:48:00 +0000

God's Blessings on 1st and 4th Place

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:47:00 +0000

Two of the most outspoken Christians at the 2012 London Olympics are Lolo Jones and Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas. As you probably know, Lolo Jones came in fourth in her race and Gabby won two gold medals in gymnastics.

I don't know what it's like to train my whole life and have the entire world as my audience as I do what I believe God has gifted and called me to do. I don't know what it feels like to have a gold medal hanging from my neck. I don't know what it feels like to look up at the results of my race and see I lost out on a medal by one-tenth of a second.

I do know it's easy for us to look at Christian athletes and talk about how much God is blessing them when they do well, when they win. What isn't easy is talking about God's blessings on 4th place, or even last place. Do we give Him praise then?

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

We thank God for good and perfect gifts. But we must understand everything in our lives is part of God's plan for us. Therefore, everything is good and perfect. Getting the gold medal or losing by one-tenth of a second.

You have probably seen the back stories they have been sharing during Olympic coverage. Many have the same theme of overcoming the odds. Of losing in Beijing in 2008 and getting a second chance. Of deciding to come out of retirement and try once more. Of healing from injuries. Those athletes testify to the fact that they are stronger because of the hard events in their lives. If they have faith in God, they can truly say every challenge, loss, and injury was a good and perfect gift from Him.

Praise Him for 1st place events in your life—for a husband who brings home flowers, for children with straight A report cards, for enough money and time to take a vacation this summer. And praise Him for the 4th place events in your life—for the diagnosis you didn't want to hear, for the credit card debt you keep chipping away at, for issues at work that continue to drain your energy.

Even if you don't understand how anything good could come from your difficult situation, trust in God, who only gives good and perfect gifts. I bet if I were to ask you in 2016 when we're watching coverage from Brazil, you'll testify of God's goodness in your life through the hardships you are experiencing now.

Don't Waste Your Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:28:00 +0000

We are counting down the days left in the summer of 2012! It feels like it has really flown by. There's still so much I want to do before school starts again. I don't want to waste what little time we have left!

Along with a trip to see family, a day at the beach, a weekend away with my Bible study group, and days filled with lots of reading, playing, and lemonade, I want to make sure I'm focusing my heart and mind on things above. I don't want my time in the Word and in prayer to fall to the bottom of my to-do list.

If you're like me and are looking for a Bible study to do, here three you could finish before Labor Day:

Prayers from the Pews: The Power of Praying for Your Church by Teri Lynne Underwood. This book is an excellent study through the book of Acts that guides you in praying for your church and yourself as a member of the body of Christ.
Focused 15: 1 Corinthians 13 Bible Study by Katie Orr. This study takes you through 1 Cor. 13, but also teaches Bible study methods you can apply to any chapter of the Bible.
31 Days of Faith: Finding Joy in Your Anguish by Tracie Stier-Johnson. This book, Tracie weaves personal stories with Scripture to bring you encouragement on your journey of faith.

Let's not waste what we have left of this summer!

Baptism Here and in China

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Last month, my six-year-old son followed up his profession of faith with baptism (you can see the video on our family site). It was a wonderful time of celebration we hope he always remembers.

Two days later, our family was in the car and we heard on the radio that over twenty people had been arrested in China that same Sunday for attending a baptism service.

Lee and I sat in silence for a minute before I looked at him and said, "Those people were arrested; David got gifts."

I've been thinking about it since then.

As I make him sit down to write thank you notes for the gifts he got, I think about it. As he "baptizes" his little brother in the swimming pool, I think about it.

I want him to remember the day, remember the gifts, remember going to McDonald's for lunch, remember all the people in our church family who clapped for him when he came up out of the water. But I also want him to remember not everyone gets gifts, lunch at McDonald's, and loud celebrations with their church families.

I want him to have a biblical world view that not only focuses on "biblical," but also on "world."

When we wake up on Sunday morning and our biggest worry is choosing an outfit, I want him to know others prepare to go to church by traveling far distances or meeting in underground churches. They don't ask, "Which Bible do you want to take today?" because some people groups don't even have the entire Bible in their native languages.

I want to teach him about the struggles of his brothers and sisters who live in places that are hostile to the Gospel. I want to teach him so he is prepared in case he ever lives in a hostile area.

I don't have the answers. I just start where he is, with what I think he can grasp. We are thankful for the freedoms and privileges we have, while remembering the Gospel is true even without them.

Top 10 Quotes from The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Last weekend I attended The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference in Orlando. It was amazing! Hours and hours of deep Bible study. It was like being back in seminary, taking an intensive weekend class. Worship was led by the Gettys, and the speakers were Tim and Kathy Keller, Don Carson, John Piper, Kathleen Nielson, Paige Benton Brown, Carrie Sandom, and Jenny Salt. I also attended sessions by Nancy Guthrie, Gloria Furman, Lydia Brownback, Collin Hansen, Kristie Anyabwile, Keri Folmar, Adrienne Lawrence, and Susan Hunt.

Here are my top ten favorite quotes from the conference. I hope it gives you an idea of all we learned! Every session will be available for free on The Gospel Coalition's website.

The intimacies & joys of marriage are merely a tiny picture of the intimacies to come between Christ and his church. - D.A. Carson
Why do we think our opinions and advice are more powerful than His Word? -Nancy Guthrie
Conversion is finding Jesus so valuable, you will have Him at the cost of anything. - John Piper
God destroys what makes your happiness fail and reveals what makes your happiness full through the gospel. - John Piper
Submission did not threaten the 2nd person of the trinity, so it's not likely to hurt me. - Kathy Keller
What does your marriage teach others about the gospel? - Kathy Keller
We don't make worship happen; we either join it or we don't. (Rev 4&5) - Kathleen Nielson
The Word answers questions we didn't even know enough to ask. -Nancy Guthrie
Does our living deny our templeness? - Paige Benton Brown
Are we willing to allow the two-edged sword of the Word to cut both ways? - Nancy Guthrie

The entire weekend was such a blessing! I hope to make it to the next one in 2014!

The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 01:57:00 +0000

This weekend I'll be at The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference! I'm excited to hear from the speakers, spend time with like-minded women, and hang out with my friend Kristi.

I'm leaving my laptop at home, so I won't be live blogging. Instead, I hope to be "all there" and take time to process what I learn when I'm back home. I will have my phone with me, so I can update Facebook and Twitter. Can't wait to share with you what I will learn!

Remembering the Newlywed Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:54:00 +0000

One of my former students got married recently. Everyday her Facebook status updates are something like this:

"Cooking dinner for my husband! So fun!"
"At home on the couch watching our favorite show together!"
"Love our Friday night dates!"
"Getting to watch my husband coach his baseball team! He's so good at his job!"

Oh, I remember those days! The "everything is new and blissful" days, when his quirks were charming and his habits were endearing. I kinda miss those days.

So, I'm working to make year number eight feel more like year number one. I'm telling him and others how wonderful he is. I'm cooking his favorite foods and finding new recipes I think he'll like. I'm ironing his clothes. When he gets home on those nights he works late, I'm walking away from my computer to greet him and sitting with him while he eats dinner and tells me about his day.

Marriage takes work. It takes work in the first months of adjusting to life together, and it takes work in the years when everything feels comfortable and predictable. How are you working for your marriage? Maybe, like me, you need a newlywed to remind you what a blessing your husband is!

I Drink Tea for the Pace, Not the Taste

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I've started drinking tea.

Yesterday my son took a sip of my tea and spit it back into my mug. "Yeah," I thought, "it does kinda taste like leaves and dirt. Just a little."

I'm drinking tea because I like the pace, not because I like the taste.

When I'm ready for a cup of tea, I have to stand in the kitchen while my water heats up. Then I stand a little longer while the infuser or bag turns the water into tea. Just stand—not stir, or chop, or mix. Not even wash, sweep, or scrub. Just stand.

Then I must slowly walk to the couch and sit. While walking, no one can run, kick, or spin circles near me. No ninja moves. No balls, Nurf guns, or flying super heroes.

Once I sit, no one can sit in my lap. We do lots of that, but not when I have tea in my hand. I can't jump up and get anyone a snack, refill a sippy cup, save a train from the black hole under the couch, or put a different DVD in. I even leave my phone on the other side on the room (to protect it in case I spill, of course).

I just sit until it's cool enough to slowly sip, and enjoy the slow part.

What do you do to slow down during your busy day?

Our Son's Salvation Story

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:32:00 +0000

On Sunday, our six year old David went forward at the end of the church service to share with our church family that he understand he is a sinner, has asked God for forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ, and is ready for baptism.

(We try to avoid the "ask Jesus in your heart" language.)

Here's why we think he's ready:

Last fall, we were driving in the car and he said he knew he was a sinner, knew he needed a Savior, and knew Jesus had paid the price for his sin. We followed that up with lots of prayer and more discussions.

He and my husband have been working through LifeWay's book, I'm a Christian Now for younger kids. He has learned a lot and is able to answer the questions with understanding.

We've also seen evidence of the Holy Spirit working in his life. I hear him whisper prayers when he's sad or angry, asking for God's help. He is sensitive to the needs of others and prays for his friends. He likes reading through the book of Acts with Lee, learning verses for Awana, and going to Sunday school and church. In the shower last night he sang "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King." (Ok, so maybe singing in the shower isn't a specific sign of the Holy Spirit, but it sure was cute!)

His baptism is scheduled for next month. I have something special planned I'll share soon!

We are so excited he's taking these steps of faith and praising God for drawing David to Himself. May our boy be a man after God's own heart!

Tips for Praying Out Loud

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:08:00 +0000

As a pastor's wife, I'm often asked to pray out loud in front of a group. (Not as often as my husband is asked, but I get my fair share of requests!) I usually don't think twice about it, and just pray. But I know not everyone is as comfortable praying out loud as I have grown to be.

Here are just a few tips to remember when you're asked to pray out loud:

Relax. You're really talking to God, not the people in the room. He's not going to love you more or less based on your performance on this prayer.
Remember to praise God in your prayer. Start by focusing on God, His attributes and His promises. It will help calm any nervousness because you aren't focused on yourself.
Don't be afraid to pause. When I get nervous I talk faster, and when I talk faster I think less about what I'm saying, and when I'm not thinking, well . . . I ramble. So I just pause. I quickly collect my thoughts and slow down so I can pray with my whole heart, and not just my fast moving lips.
Write down the requests you're praying over. In my ladies Sunday school class, we spend about half our time on prayer requests. I feel that's one of our main purposes—to support, encourage, and pray for one another. We often fill up an entire notebook page. I certainly can't remember all the requests when it's time to pray. So I look at my list. That way I make sure everyone's requests are lifted up in prayer.

Praying out loud makes lots of people nervous, but it doesn't have to. Remembering these tips may help make you more comfortable when you're asked to pray in front of a group.

Does praying out loud make you nervous? What helps you feel more comfortable? Share in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Our Autism Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

April was Autism Awareness Month. On Instagram we had a thread going to show off our kids with autism using the hashtag #30daysofautism. It was a lot of fun and I made new friends! Here are some of my favorite pictures of James from April.

April brought some changes to our "autism world." James had another appointment with his specialist in Baltimore and we're starting some new supplements. We also had a new therapist start (she's technically called a TSS, if you're familiar with the term). She comes four days a week to work with James. We absolutely love her and appreciate her commitment to help James learn.

If you want to keep up with James and his development, you can join me at our Speechless Facebook fan page!

Top Five Books I Recommend for Women's Studies

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:52:00 +0000

I majored in English in college because English majors got to read the most books. After college, I taught for a year and thought, "I'm just not reading enough. What can I do next that will require me to read even more books than my degree in English required?" The answer—seminary.

If I thought I had to read a lot of books in college, that wasn't anything compared to grad school. And I loved (almost) every minute of it!

I saw on a blog that if you read five books about any subject, you could be considered an expert. I'm not so sure about that. For one thing, you'd have to read the right five books. For another thing, five seems like a pretty small number. But, for argument's (and this blog post's) sake, let's say you could become an expert in women's studies by reading just five books. Here are the five I would recommend:

Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley. This book gives an over view of feminist history and how it effects our churches and culture today. I have highly recommended this book before, and continue to appreciate how interesting Carolyn makes the subject.
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem. This collection of essays covers major passages that teach on gender roles and important issues facing the church today.
Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitpatrick and Carol Cornish. I would say the primary way I have used my degree in my current position as pastor's wife is through informal counseling. Even though no book can prepare you for every woman's story, this book walks you through fifteen topics that will often come up in your ministry, including marriage and family issues.
Women's Ministry in the Local Church by J. Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt. This is another book I have reviewed here are the blog previously. This book is the first you should read if you want to start or strengthen the women’s ministry in your local church. It will make sure you build a solid foundation from which you can structure your ministry for the spiritual growth and discipleship of your women.
Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt. I think the best way for women's ministry to happen is through mentoring relationships. This book serves as a guide for what to do and how to do it. We did this book as a small group and I created a study guide to go along with our discussion.

What are your favorite books on women's ministry, gender roles, and counseling?

How to Help an Introvert Feel Comfortable

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:19:00 +0000

So, you're having a few friends over to your house for a book club, a Bible study, or just a fun girls' night. You've invited one friend who is kind of quiet, who may not know the other women well, and who you had to literally beg to even get her to agree to come. Chances are she's an introvert. How can you help her feel as comfortable as possible?

Susan Cain recently released the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, and it is helping both introverts and extroverts! As an introvert, I read it and understand myself better. Susan theorizes it's not that introverts don't like people, it's more about the sensory experience of being around others. These sensory experiences can be draining. As a good hostess, you can make your introverted friends feel more comfortable by taking a few steps:

Tell her what to expect. Introverts like to have a plan. They like to know what they are getting themselves into. Tell her what you have planned, who you have invited, and what she'll be expected to do. Something like this would be helpful, "Susan, I'm so glad you're coming Friday night! The plan is to eat once everyone gets here and get to know each other before we start the book discussion. I've invited Beth, Janet, Mallory, and Claudia. We'll take turns talking about what we liked and didn't like about the book we all read."
Invite her over early and give her a job so she feels comfortable and has a purpose. Walking into a room where everyone is already talking to each other makes me uncomfortable. I feel like I have to be assertive and insert myself into an on-going conversation. I'm more likely to head to the food and just hang out until someone talks to me. I like to be early and establish myself in the area before lots of people get there. As the hostess, you could ask, "Susan, the book club starts at 7:00, but could you get here about 15 minutes early to help me get things set up? It would really help me out!"
You can nudge, but don't push. You can introduce her to everyone at the party, but don't expect her to stand in the middle of a crowd talking to them at the same time. Introverts usually prefer one-on-one time that goes deeper than casual conversation. This is a strength, not a weakness! When you introduce her to someone new, you might also include something they have in common so your introverted friend will know how to start the conversation, "Susan, this is my friend Beth. Beth moved here from Georgia so she's a southern girl like you!"

When having people over, you want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible so they can enjoy themselves. Thinking ahead about the women you've invited and their personalities will help!

Are you an introvert? What makes you feel more comfortable when meeting new people?

How I Became a Pastor's Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:44:00 +0000

I had three goals when I unloaded the U-Haul at my new apartment in seminary housing in Wake Forest, North Carolina:

Get a Master of Divinity degree.
Teach English.
Don't marry a preacher.

I did get the degree. I did teach English. And I didn't marry a preacher. Instead, I married a teacher . . . who then became a preacher.

I really was serious about my goals. Lee loves to tell the story of one day after school when he was hanging out in my classroom while I was working on a new bulletin board. We were just chatting when I said, "I'm not going to date while in seminary, especially not any seminary boys." Since he was already planning to enroll at the seminary that fall, he left my classroom and decided he shouldn't waste any time on me.

I'm so glad Lee did eventually ask me out. I'm glad my plan failed. I'm glad I learned to write my to-do lists in pencil, just in case something amazing happens and I need to erase the mediocre plan I had.

How did God bring you and your husband together? How long did it take Him to get you together?

Blogging Spring Break

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:02:00 +0000

I will be on a blogging spring break until after Easter! I'll still be popping up on the Facebook page and on Instagram. Praying we all find (or make!) time to prepare our homes and hearts to celebrate Easter.

The Soundtrack of Our Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:56:00 +0000

I have always loved music. When I was young, I took piano lessons, listened to my parents' old Beatles records, and sang along with all the songs on the radio. In middle school and high school I sang in the choir. (Partly because the alternative was to play a sport or take PE.) In college we spent many weekends traveling around Texas going to concerts.

My seminary and newlywed days were quieter. Lee isn't really into music (except for his favorite singer, Kenny Rogers), and mostly listens to talk radio. Any extra money we had went to books, not CDs.

But I'm getting back into music lately so I thought it would be fun to track what we listen to throughout the average day, our soundtrack!

7:30 am- We listen to one of James's favorites, Dance Around by Ralph's World. It gets us moving, because we have to clap hands, jump up high, dance around, stomp our feet, and shout out "yay!"

9:00 am- David and I start school time and he wants to listen to The Muppets soundtrack while he works on his penmanship. His other favorites include Seeds Family Worship, the Monkee's greatest hits, and the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack. We turn the music off for other subjects though, so he can concentrate.

11:30 am- We go pick up James from school. Because a CD has been stuck in my van's CD player for over two years and the cord that connects my iPod/iPhone to the car system broke, we listen to the radio. We start out on the Christian station but a they have a preacher/teacher who talks about current events during our drive and it's usually doom and gloom. So I switch it to the country station. It's a good country radio day when we get to hear Garth Brooks or Taylor Swift. It's a bad country music day when we have to hear about a sawed-off shot gun.

11:40 am- James does his listening therapy with headphones during lunch so we don't have any other music on. His occupational therapist picks different music each week that has a specific goal, usually helping him control his motor skills or increase his attention span.

Noonish- After lunch I get in a little computer time while the boys are in quiet time. If I'm writing, I usually listen to a Pandora station through my phone. My favorites for writing are the Adele station and Broadway show tunes. If the morning has been especially loud, I don't listen to anything. I just enjoy the quiet!

Sometime in the afternoon- Both boys play the piano at some point. I'd love for them to take lessons eventually, but for now, it's just fun to hear them play.

Dinner time- I get total control of the music when I'm making dinner and Lee is downstairs with the boys. My favorite is Shaun Groves, who sings in his song "All Is Grace," "Thank You for daily bread, through us fill the empty. . . ." It's the perfect reminder as I stir the pots and fill our plates. I also like the Passion albums, Chris Tomlin, The Civil Wars, and Seryn.

During/after dinner- Each week our worship pastor shares the upcoming set list on his Facebook page. David and I listen to the songs and pick one to learn. I download it and we usually listen to it during or after dinner. It sure is fun to hear David sing along on Sunday mornings!

Writing time- After the boys are in bed, I work on editing projects or blogging. Usually during this time, I "watch" a game on Watch ESPN. I don't actually watch it, but I do have it on for background noise. I don't even have to care about the teams playing! Basketball is best for background noise, followed by football. Soccer is even good but baseball is usually too quiet (in my opinion).

Those are the sounds of our day! What does your day sound like? What gets you through your day when you're feeling sluggish? What songs help you focus your heart?

Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:49:00 +0000

I've been searching my Bible for commands on love, and searching my heart to see how I'm doing. To be honest, I'm wondering if when I get to heaven, God might ask, "How well did you love?" instead of "How well did you keep the rules?" As a rule-follower/older brother/recovering Pharisee-type, I'm ~~nervous~~ motivated. After all, it is the greatest commandment.

Love your neighbor as yourself, Lev. 19:18.
Love the Lord, Deut. 6:5.
Love good, Amos 5:15.
Love kindness, Micah 6:8.
Love your enemies, Matt. 5:44.
Love one another, John 13:34.
Love their husbands and children, Titus 2:4
Love the brotherhood, 1 Pet. 2:17.
Love not the world, 1 John 2:15.
Love the brothers, 1 John 3:14.

Next Step Editing Site Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:35:00 +0000

Next Step Editing now has its own site!

You can head over and check it out. While you're there, find out how to get a free copy of my new e-book, Beyond the Basics: 30 Tips for Better Writing.

Steady Convictions, Changing Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:30:00 +0000

Recently, I got into a discussion with someone online that caused me to go downstairs, climb on a chair to reach the top of the book shelf, pull down a former favorite and dust it off. The book opened easily to my favorite chapters and was well marked. I wondered why I hadn't read it in a while. I used the author's research to support my viewpoint in the discussion and felt good about the exchange.

Then it was time to do school with David. Then we had to pick up James. Then lunch, then laundry, then playing outside and getting ready for Daddy to get home.

But the online discussion continued. And I remembered why that particular book was dusty. Five years ago (when I kept the book on my desk so I could easily get to it), I would have spent all day going back and forth, enjoying the debate. I would have typed so quickly that spell check wouldn't know exactly what words I was trying to use. More books would have come down off the top shelf.

But yesterday, I was busy. Too busy for the discussions that were no different from the ones happening five years ago. Discussions I loved five years ago. So what changed?

My convictions aren't different. My priorities have changed.

Five years ago, when I read Jesus' words in John 13:35, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another," I was pretty sure He meant, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you study hard, learn more, and argue convincingly."

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for those who study, learn, and argue. We need them. The my top shelf would be empty without them.

The Son is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). But after years of focusing on reading (studying, learning, arguing. . .), I was stuffing myself with so much truth, there wasn't room left for grace. God is now convicting me about loving. Loving more. Loving better. Loving even those who I used to see as debate opponents.

Turns out, loving is even harder than Greek. But I keep loving. And finding God's truth and grace when I do.

Four Signature Dishes Everyone Should Have

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:04:00 +0000

I think there are four signature dishes everyone should have:

One to take to a potluck meal.
One to take to someone who needs a meal.
One to take to a small gathering (small group, book club, girls' night. . .).
One to serve when people come over.

I like to keep them all simple. The best part of having a signature dish is that you make it so often, you never mess it up!

Here's what I use for each occasion:

Ham rolls (similar to these from The Girl Who Ate Everything)
Baked spaghetti (via Paula Deen)
Chocolate chip cookie brownies (via Tidy Mom)
Cranberry orange turkey breast (via Today's Housewife)

And no matter where I go, or who comes over, I always make my lemonade!

For one gallon of lemonade:
-Heat about 3 cups of water until boiling. Add 2 cups of sugar and stir to desolve.
-Pour into pitcher and combine with two cups of lemon juice.
-Fill up with water until you have a gallon!

To make strawberry lemonade:
-Put 1 cup of strawberries (if frozen, thaw first) in small food processor and chop until fine.
-Add to lemonade.
-Stir, chill, and enjoy!

What are your signature dishes?

10 Ways to Bless Your Husband When He Is Having a Stressful Week

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:48:00 +0000

Proverbs 31:12 says the excellent wife, "does [her husband] good." That is especially important to remember when our husbands are having a stressful week. Last week my husband Lee seemed a little more tense than usual. He had a busy ministry weekend coming up so the boys and I worked hard to make sure life at home was as stress-free as possible!

Here are 10 ways to bless your husband when he is having a stressful week:

Remember things for him. Write them down, send him a reminder, or gently remind him if he forgets. The fewer things he has to have on his mind the better.
Do something around the house that's usually his job. Take out the trash, fill-up your car with gas, plug in all the electronics to charge. . . anything you can do so he doesn't have to.
Cook his favorite foods. We had chocolate covered strawberries last week "just because." It's ok to spoil him just a little!
Give him time to adjust to being home before you talk about all the issues of your day.
Pick up around the house. When our lives feel out of control we usually try to control what we can. Having a clean house helps everyone feel better.
Encourage the kids to be on their best behavior (this one can benefit you too!).
Help him find time to unwind and relax. Rent a movie he's been wanting to watch or check out a book from the library you know he would enjoy.
Remind him to take care of himself! He needs to get enough sleep, exercise, and good food.
Step in when you can. Answer the phone and take a message. Respond to the emails sent to both of you.
Pray for him and pray with him!

How do you bless your husband when he's having a stressful week?

Linked up to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday!

The Decision to Help Isn't Really a Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:12:00 +0000

A few weeks ago we were in the waiting room of a counseling provider. We were there because we hoped to get more help for James (our son with autism). Others were there for addiction issues, family counseling, and social services. One lady knew us from church and asked how the adoption was going. I told her we may still have another year to wait due to slow-downs in the process in Ethiopia. Her mom asked why we weren't adopting locally. I told her the conditions in Ethiopia are often worse than the conditions in the United States. She said, "I can see how you would think that, since you see pictures from Africa on TV of those kids. But you don't see what I see right here in our town."

It's true. I don't see what she sees. I couldn't even really see the people who sat around me in that waiting room. The man in the corner who had tattoos peeking out of his sleeves and creeping up his neck, who couldn't keep his leg from shaking, I don't know what addictions he may be trying to overcome. The couple who came in laughing and showing the receptionist pictures of their dog, I don't know how their handicaps affect their daily lives. Even when we sat in the private office and were asked, "Has James ever witnessed an act of violence in the home?" I don't know how many families have sat in that room and had to answer "yes."

But God has opened my eyes to the suffering of millions of children in the country of Ethiopia who have lost their parents. He keeps them on my mind all day long. I try their food. I pray for their leaders. I scan the headlines for news about their weather.

I think God whispers a passion for those who are suffering into all of our lives. Your passion may be for women in crisis pregnancy situations. Maybe you don't look away when you see homeless people in your city. Your burden could be for those battling addiction. Maybe your heart breaks for those forced into sex trafficking. When you listen to this God-whispered passion, you are moved to act. You are drawn to help. Often you don't even remember a conscious decision to help—you just find yourself helping.

That's how it was when we started the adoption process. It was never "if" we were going to adopt, but rather "when" we were going to adopt.

Katie Davis writes, "My family, adopting these children, is not optional. It is not my good deed for the day; it is not what I'm doing to 'help out these poor kids.' I adopt because God commands me to care for the orphans and widows in their distress. I adopt because Jesus said that to whom much is given, much will be demanded (see Luke 12:48) and whoever finds his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for His sake will find it (see Matthew 10:39)." (Kisses from Katie)

What passion has God whispered into your life? How are you acting on that passion? I would love to hear your story!